If there is one defining character of this region, I'd have to say that would be "damp". On occasion, that means rain... lots of rain. The Russian River has had a few flood events over the course of the last few decades, the worst in recent history being in 1986.

Rio Nido rockpile, flooded

The first winter we lived here, on December 12, 2014, a significant rainfall brought the river up to 33 feet, one foot above flood stage. During the summer, this spot looks more like this...

Rio Nido rockpile, not flooded

This year, in January of 2017, it looks like this...

Burn it. Burn it with FIRE!

Perhaps worse than any weather-related challenges though is the looming threat of poison oak.

One only need experience this once in it's extreme before learning to stock gallons of Tecnu and at least 2 courses of Prednisone on hand as precautionary measures. It is also good to have a decontamination protocol in place after trapesing through the back yard and before re-entering the house.

OK Nature, you win.

Given the dampness and copious shade, mold is also an ever-present element. There really isn't any way to avoid it entirely, but we have found that having a dehumidifier running when the humidity hits 65+ does wonders, especially in our little house.

And finally, the meek, who will surely inherit this planet. I've not had dealings with the business end of this one, but I am fairly certain I would prefer it over the poison oak.

Friday, January 20, 2017

We purchased our home in Rio Nido in November 2016 after living here since April of 2014. We had fallen in love with this little place the minute we saw it, but didn't dare hope it would ever be OURS.

Living under giants...

Well, now it is, and the real fun begins. This space will be a journal of our efforts to transform this place into
something that truly reflects who we are and what we believe is
important in life.

Hillbilly hot tub in the rain...

It's really pretty impossible to fully convey the beauty around us. We are minutes from ancient redwood groves, the Russian River, the breathtaking Sonoma Coast, and the many unique towns that make up Sonoma County. This place is incredible, and we wake up every morning in disbelief that we are so blessed to live here. We love spending time outdoors, and living in this perfect corner of Northern California gives us infinite opportunities to be surrounded by all these natural wonders.

Mezmerizing light shows with our morning coffee...

As we settle into the realization that our dream has become a reality, some ideas for enhancing our property are starting to percolate. This blog will be where we chronicle how those ideas come to fruition, our thoughts about the process, and share information we find on the way to look back on over the years.

In light of the historic developments that took place in our federal government today, this space will also help us hold onto and pursue our dreams so we aren't bogged down by the heaviness of modern life.